Gar-coupling



J., HOLUM. GAR ooUPLINa..

(No Model.)

Patented 13601621893.

@PQR/07:

Holum Je@ @$.62 www NiTED STATES" PATENT Frrcn.

JOHN l-IOLUM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

' -cAR-COUPLHQG.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,427, dated December26, 1893.

l Application filed June 6, 1893. Serial No. l76,797. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 17mg concern:

Be it known that l, JOHrxI-HOLM, a citizen of the United States,residihg at'Minneapolis,

in the county of Hennepin, State of Minnesofa, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in car" couplers, and the objectIhave in view is to provide a coupler for use upon freight carsespecially andin which an ordinary link and pin may be employed so as toautomatically couple when the cars are brought together.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and combinationshereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, andwill be more readily understood' by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and sideelevation of a coupler constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a plan section on line 5c-x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevationof one of the draw-heads.

In the drawings, 2 represents the draw-bar and head, which isconstructed of cast metal and is of substantially the same form as thedraw-head of the ordinary link and pin coup# ler. This draw-head isprovided with the large cavity 3 which is preferably open at the top andthe front of thedraw-head is provided above thev link opening with thetransverse part 5 which forms a solid end to the upper part of thedraw-head. Pivoted within this cavity is the link and pin holder 7whichis pivoted at its upper forward end and is in the shape of a hook, asshown, and is provided with the recesses in both parts at the forwardend,forn1in g a space through which the coupling pin 9 extends. This pinalso extends through a hole in the bottom of the draw-head. The backpart of the link and pin holder 7 is preferably formed solid and it isprovided with the shoulder l1 forming a stop for the pin and upon whichthe pin may'rest when`y the link and pin holder is dropped down to itslowest position and the link is out of the draw head. 'fA pin 13 passesthrough the drawhead back of the'coupling pin 9 and between the twoparts of the link-holder 7. The drawhead is provided at its lower partwith the incline 15 and the sides of the opening in the draw-head arealso preferably inclined so as to properly direct the link to thecentral part of the cavity in the draw-head. Pivoted upon each side ofthe draw-head is a lever 17 to which'is'connected a pin-lifter 19. Thehandle 21 is attached to the rear end of each of the levers 17 andprojects toward the side of thecar. The pin-lifter extends up on eachside of the draw-head and across the top and is provided with an openingthrough which the coupling-pin 9 passes. 23 represents the ylink whichmay be of the usual forni and construction. Y

The bottom-wall 25 of the cavity in the drawhead is preferably inclined,being highest at the outer end so that when the link rests thereon'withthe pin and link holder 7 bearv ing upon the end ofthe link, the linkstands in an inclined position with its outer end highest so that whenthe two draw-heads are brought together the end ofthe link striking onthe inclined surface of the cavity'in the draw-head rides up thissurface and is brought into proper position in the link cavity eventhough one draw-head is considerably above the other. When the link isout of the drawhead the pin and link holder 7 drops down against thebottom'ot' the link cavity and the coupling pin 9 rests upon theshoulder ll and the pin is thus held in a raised position. When holderrests by gravity upon the end of the link at all times when it is inthedraw-head andv holds it in proper position for automatic coupling.

When it is desired to uncouple, the pin is raised by means of the handleand pin-lifter, and as soon as the link is drawn out of the draw-headthe link and pin lifter drops forward, and the handle being released thepin willdrop down until its upper endrests upon IOO the shoulder 11. Thelower end of the coupling pin is preferably beveled, as shown, so thatit readily drops o from the shoulder l1 while retaining its positionthereon, until the link and pin holder is moved back by the e11- teringof a link in the act of coupling the cars.

It will be seen that this coupler is very strong and durable, the solidfront portion of the upper part of the link cavity addinggreatly to thestrength of the draw-head. It will be seen that it' may be used with thecoupling of the ordinary link-and-pin coupler; that `it uses theordinary link and pin and may be inserted in place of the ordinarydraw-head in connection with the usual draft rigging upon any ordinarycar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent- A -1. The combination, with the `draw-head, the linkandthe couplingpn,oftl1epin and link holder 7 pivoted at itsforwardupper part in the draw-head, and formed at its forward portion in twoparts havinga space between through which the coupling pin may pass, andprovided with the shoulder 11 adapted to hold the pin i'u an elevatedposition and to rest by gravity on the end of `the link, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, the link and the coupling pin,of the pvoted pin and link holder 7, provided with a shout der adaptedto hold the coupling pin in an elevated position and adapted to restupon the end of the link, and the link lifter engaging the coupling pin,substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 13th day of May,1893.

JOI-IN HOLUM.

In presenceiof- G. E. PURPLE, F. S. LYON.

